Bridal inspiration, pro tips, and real wedding features from the smallest state

Kristina and Mike’s Romantic Woodsy Wedding

Today’s couple you might recognize from a styled engagement shoot we did this summer on Nantucket. While working with them on the shoots, we heard about their beautiful wedding and instantly knew we would want to see the pictures! Think glamorous woodsy and romantic and fit for a fairy princess.

Kristina and Mike live on a beautiful 6-acre property in Exeter Rhode Island. Lovers of hiking and the outdoors, their property was the perfect location for their romantic wedding. The couples reception was in a natural glen surrounded by tall trees and the reception just beside their barn. When you live where you love, it just makes sense to spend the happiest day of your life there, celebrating. As an extra bonus, the couples 10-year-old golden doodle, named Pancake, was a bridesmaid. <3

Enjoy their gorgeous photos and scroll to the bottom to read about their love story as told by their officiant during their wedding ceremony.

At their wedding, the couple had their officiate tell their story. Mike had written his version and Kristina wrote hers. They gave their

At their wedding, the couple had their officiate tell their story. Mike had written his version and Kristina wrote hers. They gave their separate versions to the officiate, and she read their story for their ceremony. This is what she read.

“When Michael first meet Kristina he swears, the song “Dream Weaver” was playing in his head; hearing the words, “Ooh Kristina, I believe YOU could get me through the night!” He felt THAT instant – heart skipping a beat, weak in the knees floating feeling – that often is used to describe “love at first sight”. On the other hand Kristina had that, “Oh well, sigh, for the handsome, self confident guy who looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, kind of reaction. Although, she also remembers that it was “a very good night”.

Michael and Kristina saw each other a few more times when a mutual friend dragged her to a couple of Michael’s band’s practice sessions. After that, they both went their separate ways. Mike was off working hard trying to break into the music industry, and Kristina pursued her own interests and dreams. As with most people they tried on different relationships along the way, but just didn’t find quite the right fit.

In 2011, after a long period of “radio silence”, they became FaceBook friends. Mike says he loosely followed Kristina, admired her from afar, being careful not to seem like a stalker, all the while trying to be noticed. They began sharing posts using the same off kilter sense humor, like the one Kristina wrote on Mike’s wall “Happy birthday fellow pooper.”

Eventually, Mike decided to go for an honest declaration of his feelings and told her that he’d be honored if she’d go out to dinner with him some time. Kristina SAYS she replied, “You seem very nice, but I am in no way interested in starting a new relationship with ANYONE right now.” Mike remembers the reply as, “ABSOLUTELY not, but thanks!”

Talk about being hard to get together!

Meanwhile Mike, from the moment they met, felt like there was a connection between them; if only she would give him a chance, it might become something more. He persevered, waiting for an opportunity. Eventually, he was forced to use deception, to convince her to meet him at Sapo Burrito in Newport for their first “not a date” to discuss a non existent job opportunity with the company where he worked. Since she likes burritos, Kristina agreed to meet him.

When Kristina saw him on this occasion, she still thought he was very, very handsome. THEN when he gave her that big, gapped-tooth smile, she got the first inkling that she might be in trouble. And they actually had, a great time together.

Still making no promises, Kristina agreed to a “getting to know each other with no strings attached” arrangement. So, they spent more time together, going on an assortment of “not a dates”, until eventually, Kristina relaxed. She had finally realized that he wasn’t going to rush her into anything she wasn’t ready for, and she began to feel like she might be safe.

On July 3, 2011, Mike ask Kristina to hang out with him. He took her to an old mill building in Fall River, where they just happened to find a room that was empty except for a piano. As Mike filled the room with music, Kristina wandered around and finally had what might be described as her, first glimmer, of the “Dream Weaver” dream sequence. That was quite an eye opener moment!

Then suddenly Mike jumped up and took her up some stairs, then insisted that she follow him up a ladder from one roof to an even higher rooftop. Startled by a loud bang, Kristina jumped and spun around on the rooftop in time to see the fading twinkle of fireworks fanning out above her head. From this vantage point they were dazzled by the fireworks displays from several cities at once. Kristina, claims she isn’t the biggest romantic, but even for someone who may not BE overly romantic, THIS was a grand gesture. THIS was, movie stuff!

And because she was ready, and this was THEIR TIME, Mike held her hand and asked if this could be their first date, and Kristina finally said, “YES.”

Michael’s best friend Brandon had once said, “A relationship should only add to you; it should only make you a better, happier person.” Well, Kristina and Micheal had found that relationship, they had found the “one”. And in the end, it was simple. Well, simple, because THEY are simply in love, THEY are best buddies, and they had both found, the one they could love, to the end of the universe and back.”

versions to the officiate, and she read their story for their ceremony. This is what she read.

“When Michael first meet Kristina he swears, the song “Dream Weaver” was playing in his head; hearing the words, “Ooh Kristina, I believe YOU could get me through the night!” He felt THAT instant – heart skipping a beat, weak in the knees floating feeling – that often is used to describe “love at first sight”. On the other hand Kristina had that, “Oh well, sigh, for the handsome, self confident guy who looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, kind of reaction. Although, she also remembers that it was “a very good night”.

Michael and Kristina saw each other a few more times when a mutual friend dragged her to a couple of Michael’s band’s practice sessions. After that, they both went their separate ways. Mike was off working hard trying to break into the music industry, and Kristina pursued her own interests and dreams. As with most people they tried on different relationships along the way, but just didn’t find quite the right fit.

In 2011, after a long period of “radio silence”, they became FaceBook friends. Mike says he loosely followed Kristina, admired her from afar, being careful not to seem like a stalker, all the while trying to be noticed. They began sharing posts using the same off kilter sense humor, like the one Kristina wrote on Mike’s wall “Happy birthday fellow pooper.”

Eventually, Mike decided to go for an honest declaration of his feelings and told her that he’d be honored if she’d go out to dinner with him some time. Kristina SAYS she replied, “You seem very nice, but I am in no way interested in starting a new relationship with ANYONE right now.” Mike remembers the reply as, “ABSOLUTELY not, but thanks!”

Talk about being hard to get together!

Meanwhile Mike, from the moment they met, felt like there was a connection between them; if only she would give him a chance, it might become something more. He persevered, waiting for an opportunity. Eventually, he was forced to use deception, to convince her to meet him at Sapo Burrito in Newport for their first “not a date” to discuss a non existent job opportunity with the company where he worked. Since she likes burritos, Kristina agreed to meet him.

When Kristina saw him on this occasion, she still thought he was very, very handsome. THEN when he gave her that big, gapped-tooth smile, she got the first inkling that she might be in trouble. And they actually had, a great time together.

Still making no promises, Kristina agreed to a “getting to know each other with no strings attached” arrangement. So, they spent more time together, going on an assortment of “not a dates”, until eventually, Kristina relaxed. She had finally realized that he wasn’t going to rush her into anything she wasn’t ready for, and she began to feel like she might be safe.

On July 3, 2011, Mike ask Kristina to hang out with him. He took her to an old mill building in Fall River, where they just happened to find a room that was empty except for a piano. As Mike filled the room with music, Kristina wandered around and finally had what might be described as her, first glimmer, of the “Dream Weaver” dream sequence. That was quite an eye opener moment!

Then suddenly Mike jumped up and took her up some stairs, then insisted that she follow him up a ladder from one roof to an even higher rooftop. Startled by a loud bang, Kristina jumped and spun around on the rooftop in time to see the fading twinkle of fireworks fanning out above her head. From this vantage point they were dazzled by the fireworks displays from several cities at once. Kristina, claims she isn’t the biggest romantic, but even for someone who may not BE overly romantic, THIS was a grand gesture. THIS was, movie stuff!

And because she was ready, and this was THEIR TIME, Mike held her hand and asked if this could be their first date, and Kristina finally said, “YES.”

Michael’s best friend Brandon had once said, “A relationship should only add to you; it should only make you a better, happier person.” Well, Kristina and Micheal had found that relationship, they had found the “one”. And in the end, it was simple. Well, simple, because THEY are simply in love, THEY are best buddies, and they had both found, the one they could love, to the end of the universe and back.”